Lisa Kopochinski
Hybrid rye varieties have become much more common in Western Canada over the past decade. This has largely been driven by its impressive performance, particularly under successful rye-growing conditions.
First introduced to farmers on a trial basis, hybrid rye showed its success quickly, with a yield increase over conventional rye by approximately 30 per cent.
This versatile cereal crop serves a wide range of end-use markets – including feed (forage and grain), food (milling and distilling), fuel and cover cropping – making it a flexible and future-ready option for Canadian growers.
What Farmers are Saying
Matt Gosling, owner of Premium Ag (an agriculture consulting company formed in Strathmore, Alberta in 2003), calls hybrid rye his favourite crop and the best herbicide on the market, believing there is no other cereal crop with as much genetic potential.
“What I like most about the farming industry is all the life skills it presents,” he says. “From work ethic to patience to mental strength to business planning to people skills. There is a bit of everything. The technology advancements in genetics, machinery and agronomy are very exciting and will help bridge the gap into the new generation entering the industry.”
He adds hybrid rye is super nutrient efficient, with disease rarely being an issue. “It’s harvested early, and super competitive with weeds.”
Brad Crammond, owner of BT Crammond Farms Ltd. near Austin, Manitoba, grows wheat, canola, seed and commercial soybeans, and hybrid fall rye. What he loves most about farming and the agricultural industry is the challenge.
“Being able to have a fresh start every season to try to improve keeps a person continually motivated,” says Crammond. “I believe that is why there is such a push for innovation in our industry. Everyone involved is inherently driven to succeed.”
After growing fall rye on select fields for over a decade, Crammond experienced success, but says yields were variable and standability a challenge in certain conditions. “After watching neighbours grow KWS hybrid fall rye for a few seasons, we decided to try it up against our old OP variety. That first year, we saw a 22-bushel yield increase, and ease of harvest was excellent. We’ve grown KWS hybrids ever since.”
Dale Wylie, owner of Wylie Seeds in Biggar, Saskatchewan – which carries a full line of certified, seeds, cereals, corn, soybeans and pulses – says hybrid fall rye has become a big part of his farm’s rotation.
Main Benefits
When asked about specific noteworthy benefits, Wylie says, “It is a very competitive crop over other cereals, so economically, it’s a benefit.” Other perks include more diversity in the crop rotation. “You’re planting it in the fall and taking advantage of early spring moisture. Then you have an earlier harvest. And from a wheat management standpoint, no herbicides are used, so economically, there’s another benefit.”
Gosling sees incredible yield potential on dryland and irrigation, with a massive straw deposit. “Being a fall seeded crop, it hits anthesis around the most important day of the year – June 21! It’s early to get to reproduction and grain fill. So, in these hot July months we’ve seen, yield isn’t punished to the degree that spring seeded crops are. It’s a great way to help manage herbicide resistance. I’ve never sprayed for wild oats in hybrid rye because it’s so competitive.”
Crammond agrees and adds, “If you receive adequate moisture and fertilize for optimal yield, it always seems to produce – even on poorer land. Harvestability is greatly improved as well with very little lodging and much shorter straw.”
As for what farmers need to do to be successful in preparing for the fall, he says it is important to have everything ready to go to ensure it is planted on time.
“Field selection starts the year before with previous crop and variety selection to make sure it is off in time to seed. We always plant our rye on canola stubble to encourage good snow cover for the overwintering plants. Also, make sure the seedbed is clean and free of heavy residue to ensure good germination, and manage fertility using your equipment capabilities.”
Crammond adds that he always harrows the canola stubble prior to planting the rye to encourage volunteer growth, smoothing and spreading any residue issues.
“It’s a very aggressive plant and you don’t want it competing for moisture and nutrients the following season. A pre-seed burn-off is always done as well. We typically swath our rye. It negates the need for a pre-harvest application, hastens maturity and dries the straw out for better combine performance.”
Gosling finds shallow seeding beneficial, saying 0.5 inch seems to be ideal. “And you want to seed into canola or pulse stubble, but I’m comfortable seeding into cereal stubble also. It might look a bit hairy in the fall, but the frost takes care of that. Fertility timing is flexible, but I’d be aggressive on P&K (phosphorus and potassium) with it going through winter. Always follow rye with canola or a pulse to control the volunteer rye plants, and be timely with glyphosate applications ahead of seeding the next crop to control as many as possible.
He adds the only drawback is that this is a niche crop. “Hitting the milling market is great, but it’s a small market and a crop that you’ll likely have to store, so cash flow is spread out to 12 to 18 months.”
